The modest character of the operations of the Society during the first two years may be gathered from the entries of the weekly payments. On May 25, 1832, ‘wages, labour, and provisions for the last week’ came to £6 2s. 9d. This may be taken as a sample of the weekly expenditure, but it does not represent the total outlay upon provisions, because bills were run for several items of food for the animals.
The Gardens were opened to the public on September 1, 1831. The following advertisement appeared in the Saunders’ Newsletter on the morning of that day:
‘ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
‘The Zoological Garden in the Phœnix Park, under the patronage of His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, will be opened for visitors on this day, Thursday, September 1, at nine o’clock in the morning, and will not be closed until a late hour in the day.
‘All persons are to be admitted for sixpence each, and they are to write their names at the gate.
‘A member who has paid his subscription, and two friends coming with him, are admitted free of expense.
‘Members are also allowed to purchase transferable tickets.
‘The Committee request that visitors may leave their sticks and umbrellas at the gate, and that children may be kept from approaching too near to the bars which confine the animals.
‘J. Pim, Esq., 41, Dame Street, continues to receive subscriptions and donations.
‘The first day’s receipts will be given to the Mendicity Institution.’